Press box locking mechanism



March 22, 1938. J, s. NEvlTT 2,111,638

PRESS BOX LOCKING MECHANISM March 22, 1938. J, 5 NEV|TT 2,111,638

PRESS BOX LOCKING MECHANISM Filed Maron 2'1, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 22, 1938. 1 s NEWT-f PRESS BOX LOCKING MECHANISM Filed March 2l, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet Z Illlll/llll' lll l N 4 4 j j lo NH4 ...Mw k

Patented Mar. 22, 193% UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE PRESS BOX LGCKING MECHANISM Texas Application March 21, 1935, Serial No. 12,227

5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in press box locking mechanism.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved locking mechanism for a press box 5 which is connected with and actuated by the tramper operating means, said mechanism being arranged to be applied to any type of press box of the usual construction to lock the same in position. l An important object of the invention is to provide an improved locking mechanism for the ordinary double press boxes which are rotatable beneath the tramper and above the press, said mechanism being so arranged that the tramper vl and press cannot be operated until both boxes have moved to their respective positions directly beneath the tramper and above the press, thereby eliminating the danger of said tramper and press striking the sides of said boxes and damaging the tramper or boxes due to the fact that said boxes are out of alinement; said mechanism also preventing the boxes from being moved out of position during the operation of said tramper and press.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved lock for a press box including a latch member arranged to engage the box to lock it in position, and means controlled by the tramper operating means for engaging the lock member, whereby when said member is holding the Vbox in position, said means will prevent it unlocking until the tramper Voperating means has been cut off to disengage said means from the member; similarly the member engaging the frcontrolling means and preventing actuating of said controlling means and the tramper operating means, when the member is in an unlocked position and the box is free to move.

A further object of the invention is to provide 110 an improved lock for a press box which is connected with the control of the tramper operating means in such a way that the operation of the tramper depends on the position of said lock and the operation of said lock depends on the tramper operating control.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features of the invention.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a double press shown) box, having the improved locking mechanism applied thereto,

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the lock,

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the 'same in its locked position, engaging the flange of the press Y`f5 boxes, said flange being in section,

Figure 4 is a plan view of the lock,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical sectional View thereof, Y

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the'upper por-V 10 tion of the press box, showing the tramper control means and its connection with the lock,

Figure 7 is an isometric view of the swinging latch bar and the stop bar,

Figure 8 is a schematic view of the tramper'l brake mechanism,

Y Figure 9 is an isometric view of the connection between the tramper operating shaft and the locking means shaft,

Figure 10 is a front elevation of another form 20 of the invention,

Figure 11 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 12 is a plan view,

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the upper end of a press box showing the connection between 25 the lock and tramper control means, and

Figure 14 is a detail of the gear rack employed in this form.

1n the drawings, the numeral I0 designates a double box press of the usual construction. Each V30 press box H is suitably secured on a rotatable platform I2 which is mounted to rotate within the supporting frame I3. The platform is located in horizontal alinement with the press floor i4. Each press box includes the usual side and 35 end boards I5 which are held together by the horizontal frame members I5. These members are usually located slightly above the level of the platform l2.

By observing Figure 1, it will be seen that the `4.0 boxes Il arearranged so that when `one of said boxes is in position for charging, that is, below the tramper I1, the other box is in direct vertical alinement with the press ram plunger (not With this arrangement, the cotton in '45 one box may be tamped, while the cotton in the other box, which has already been tamped is being baled. All of the above described parts are present in the ordinary double box press and are subject to variation. 50

It has been found in practice, that when the platform is rotated to change the positions of the boxes, the tramper and ram plunger are operated before the boxes have moved to their positions in direct Vertical alinement therewith. This causes '55 the tramper and plunger to strike the edges of said boxes, rather than entering said boxes which results in damage not only to the boxes but also to the tramper. Similarly, it has been found that if the boxes are not positively locked when first positioned, they might move slightly out of alinement during the operation of the moving parts. This also causes damage to the boxes and tramper as well as delay in repairing the damaged parts.

To overcome these disadvantages, the locking means is directly connected with and controlled by the tramper control means. As shown in Figures 1, 6 and 8, the conventional type of control means for starting and stopping the tramper I1 and press plunger (not shown) is illustrated. This control means includes a pulley I8 which is mounted on a horizontal shaft I9 supported in suitable brackets 25 and 30 secured to the stationary frame I3 The shaft has an arm 2l (Figures l, 6 and 8) secured thereto and this arm is connected by a link 22 to a second arm 23 secured on one end of a stub shaft 24. The shaft 24 is supported in a suitable sleeve 25 and a cam 25 is secured on its opposite end. This cam is arranged to engage the outer end of a pivoted brake shoe 21 which is positioned to engage the periphery of a drive wheel 28 for operating the tramper I1. The pulley I8 is connected by any suitable means (not shown) with the operating motor of the tramper I1 so that when the pulley is rotated in one direction it will stop the operation of said tramper and apply the brake, and when rotated in an opposite direction it will release the brake and start the tramper. A suitable cord 2S having handles 29 at each end is passed over the pulley whereby said pulley may be manually rotated.

In carrying out the invention, the shaft I9 of the pulley is extended outwardly to one end of the frame I3. (Figure 1.) The extreme outer end of the shaft carries an arm 3! which is connected by a pitman rod 32 with the outer end of a horizontally extending arm 33, whereby when the shaft IS is rotated the arm 33 is swung in a horizontal plane. The aim 33 is secured to the upper end of a vertically extending rotatable shaft 34 which is located contiguous to the inner side of one of the vertical standards of the frame I3, being supported in suitable bearings 35. The lower end of the shaft is provided with a laterally extending locking bar 36 which is secured to the shaft in any suitable manner. It is obvious that when the pulley shaft I9 is rotated to start or stop the tramper, the vertical shaft 34 is rotated to swing the locking bar 36. The swinging of the bar causes said bar to engage or disengage the latching means as will be hereinafter explained.

For holding the press boxes against rotation after they have been alined with the tramper and ram plunger, as has been explained, each press box is provided with a bar 40, which is secured to the outer end of each box. Each bar is secured to the frame member IS of the box and is provided with a notch 4I at the central portion of the outwardly extending ange 40 of the bar (Figure 4). When the boxes are in their proper positions in alinement with the tramper and ram plunger, the notch 4I in the flange 45 on the press box above said plunger, is in alinement with the vertical standard of frame I3 and is arranged to be engaged by the latching means 42.

The latching means 42 includes a pair of angular supports 43 which are secured to the inner side of the vertical standard of frame I3. The supports are spaced apart and are mounted centrally of the standard. An angular latch bar 44 is pivoted on a pin 45 between the supports (Figures 4 and 5) and a coiled spring 46 is positioned between the vertical leg 41 of said bar and the standard, to exert its pressure to force the leg 41 outwardly at all times. The lower end of the vertical leg 41 is arranged to engage the notch 4l of each bar 43 when said notch moves opposite the same. The notch is so positioned that when said leg 4l' is engaged therein, the boxes are in position beneath the tramper I1 and plunger (not shown). The horizontal leg 48 of the latch is provided with ears 49 at its outer end and a vertical rod 50 is pivoted therein. The upper end of the rod is pivoted to a hand lever 5I, which is mounted to swing on the inner side of the vertical standard of frame I3. It is obvious that by swinging the hand lever, the latching bar may be swung to retract the lower end of the vertical ieg 41 from the slot 4I of the flange 43', to the dotted line position shown in Figure 5. From the above, it is obvious that as the boxes are rotated from one position to another, the latching bar 44 will engage the slot 4I of the flange moving into alinement therewith. The ends of the angle bars 40 are rounded at 40 (Figure 4) so that as said bar rst engages the leg 41 of the bar 44 said leg is depressed under tension of the spring 46. As soon as the notch 4I moves opposite the leg 41, said leg moves into the notch to stop further rotation. As

has been pointed out, the boxes are in their proper positions when this occurs.

To prevent retraction of the leg 41 from the notch 4I by the hand lever 5I, the locking bar 36 on the lower end of the shaft 34 has its outer end extended over the upper surface of a lug 52 projecting upwardly from the horizontal leg 48 of the latching bar 44. When the bar 44 is engaging in the notch as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the locking bar 36 can swing over said lug to prevent upward swinging of the leg 48. This swinging occurs when the pulley I8 has been rotated to turn the tramper on. If the latch 44 has not yet engaged the notch 4i, then it is in a retracted position, being held so by engagement with a ange 40 of bar 4l), and the lug 52 would be raised (dotted lines Figure 5) directly in the path of the bar 36. In such case, the bar 36 could not be swung because of striking said lug. The halting of the bar 36 would prevent rotation of the pulley shaft I9 because of the direct connection between the locking bar and said shaft. Therefore, unless the latch 44 were engaging in the notch 4I the tramper could not be turned on.

However, when the flange 40 moves away from the latching means 42, the latching bar 44 would immediately swing under compression of the spring 46 so that its vertical leg 41 will be moved outward to a greater extent than when it is moved to engage in a notch 4I of one or the other of bars 45. This would move the lug 52 out of the path of the locking bar 35 and permit said bar to be swung while the boxes II were being rotated, thereby permitting the tramper to be operated during rotation of the boxes. To avoid this, an angular stop member 53 is pivoted adjacent the latch 44 on the pin 45. This member includes a horizontal leg 54 and a downwardly extending leg 55 including the angular stop member 53. A coiled spring 56 is mounted between the upper end of the leg 54 and a bracket arm 51 extending upwardly from one of the supports 43, and exerts compression to force the leg 54 downwardly into the path of the swingable locking bar 36. The vertical leg 55 is provided with a laterally extending arm 58 arranged to be engaged by the edge of the flange By observing Figure 5, it will be seen that when the arm 58 is engaged by the flan-ge, the stop is swung so that the leg 54 is out of the path of the locking bar 36. The arm is-of suflicient length to bridge the width of the notch 4I as it passes thereby. However, this bar 36 cannot be swung until the latch 44 has fallen into the notch 4I. Once the locking bar has been swung inwardly and the tramper started as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, it is below the leg 54 of the stop member, and above the lug 52 on the latch 44, and the latch cannot be retracted from the notch 4I until the bar 36 has been swung away therefrom and the tramper stopped.

Assuming that the tramper is turned olf, the pulley I8 is inthe position shown in Figure 6, with the locking bar 36 in the position shown in full lines in Figure 4, When the bar is in this position, the hand lever 5I may be swung to retract the latch 44 from the notch 4I, whereby the press-boxes I I may be rotated to interchange the same. As soon as the flange 40 moves away from the latching means 42, then the stop bar 53 is swung compressed by spring 56, so that its horizontal leg 54 is swung into the path of the locking bar 36, thereby preventing swinging of the bar and operation of the tramper control means. At this time the latch 44 is also swung so its vertical leg is extending beyond the supports 43 in the path of the flanges 40.

The parts remain in this position until the press boxes have been rotated to opposite positions. Then the flange 46 on the press box moving into position over the ram plunger, engages the arm 58 of the stop bar 53 to swing said bar so that its horizontal leg 54 moves out of-the path of the lock bar 36. However,A at the same time, the latch 44 is swung inwardly so that the lug 52 on its horizontal leg 48 moves into the path of said locking bar 36. Thus, it is obvious that when the flange 4U swings the stop bar 53 out of the way of the locking bar 36, it also swings the latch so that the lug 52 moves into the path of said locking bar. When the latch engages in the notch 4I, its swinging to this engaged position moves the lug 52 out of the path of the locking bar 36 and it is then possible to swing the bar 36 inwardly between the bar 53 and latch 44 as shown in Figures 3 and 5. The bar 36 is swung through the medium of the pulley I8 which also turns on the tramper I1 and ram plunger (not shown). From the above, it will be seen that the tramper cannot be operated until the boxes I I are in latched position.

After the bar 36 has been swung inwardly, (dotted lines, Figure 4), the latch 44 can not be swung by swinging the hand lever` 5I, because said bar overhangs and engages the upper edge of the lug 52 thereon. Therefore, the latch cannot be retracted from the notch 4I to permit movement of the press boxes II, until the pulley I8 has been rotated to stop the tramper and plunger which action swings the bar from over the latch to its original position shown in full lines Figure 4.

In Figures 10 to 14, I have shown a modied form of the invention. Instead ofthe swinging locking bar 36 and vertical shaft 34, a sliding bar 66 is provided. This bar is positioned to move between the stop bar 53 and the latch 44, similar to the bar 36. For imparting movement to said bar, a gear rack 6I is formed thereon and this rack is in constant engagement with a pinion 62, mounted on a suitable shaft 63. The

outer end of the shaft has the central portion of a lever 64 secured thereto, and it is obvious that when the lever is swung the shaft is rotated to move the bar 60. For swinging the lever, chains 65 are secured to each end thereof. The chains .v

pass over idler pulleys 66 and have their other ends fastened to diametrically opposite sides of a collar 61 secured on the outer end of the pulley shaft I5 in place of the arm 3l. It will be seen by observing Figure 13 that when the shaft I9 is rotated, the lever 64 is swung to rotate the shaft 63 and pinion 62, thereby moving the bar 60 inwardly or outwardly. The operation of the other parts is the same as that shown in Figures l to 9 and a description is deemed unnecessary.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

vl. A locking mechanism for a press box having a notch on one end thereof, including a swinging latch for engaging the notch to hold the box in an immovable position, a manual operator for swinging the latch to its disengaged position, and controlling means connected with the operating means of a tramper and arranged to engage over said latch when it is engaged in the notch, whereby swinging of the latch is prevented when the tramper is operated, said controlling means being disengaged from the latch when the tramper is inoperative, whereby the latch may be swung to disengage it from the notch, the swinging of the latch moving said latch from the notch to a position in the path of said controlling means to prevent actuation of said controlling means and tramper.

2. A locking mechanism for a press box having a bar provided with a notch on one end thereof, including a swinging latch for engaging the notch tohold the box in an immovable position, a manual operator for swinging the latch to its disengaged position, controlling means connected with the operating means of a tramp-er and having an element arranged to engage over said latch when the latter is engaged in the notch, whereby swinging of the latch is prevented when the tramper is operated, said controlling means being disengaged from the latch when the tramper is inoperative, whereby the latch may be manually swung to disengage it from the notch, and spring-pressed means arranged to move into the path of the latch engaging element of thev controlling means to prevent actuation thereof when the latch is disengaged from the notch bar, thereby preventing operation of the tramper when the press-box is moved from its latch engaging position.

3. A locking mechanism for a press box having a. bar provided with a notch on one end thereof, including a swinging latch for engaging the notch to hold the box in an immovable position, a manual operator for swinging the latch to its disengaged position, controlling means connected with the operating means of a tramper and having an element arranged to engage over .said latch when the latter is engaged in the notch, whereby swinging of the latch is prevented when the tramper is operated, said controlling means being disengaged from the latch when the tramper is inoperative, whereby the latch may be'manually swung to disengage it from the notch, and a swinging stop bar arranged to move into the path of the latch engaging element of the controlling means to prevent actuation thereof when the latch is disengaged from the notch bar, thereby preventing operation of the tramper when the pressbox is moved from its latch engaging position, said stop bar being engaged by a member on the press box to swing said stop bar out of the path of said controlling means prior to the engagement of the latch in said notch.

4. In a press of the class described, a press box locking mechanism comprising, with a box mounted for movement into and from position for pressing operation therein, a latch-engaging element located on and movable with the box, a stationary latch mechanism having a normally yieldably urged latch element automatically en,- gaging said latch-engaging element to hold the box when the same is brought in proper position for the pressing operation therein, means for operating the press when the box is so positioned, and an interlocking element associated with the press operating means and cooperating with the stationary latch mechanism so as to prevent release of said normally yeldably urged latch element from the latch-engaging element on the box and also preventing the operation of the press when said latch element of the mechanism is moved from said box-holding position.

5. In a press of the class described, a press box locking mechanism comprising, with a boxk mounted for movement into and from position for a pressing operation therein, a latch-engaging element located on the box and movable therewith to a denite latching position with. the, box in proper position for the pressing operation, a stationary latch mechanism having a normally yieldably urged latch element automatically engaging said latch-engaging element to hold the box When the same is brought into proper posi-- tion for the pressing operation therein, manually operable means for releasing said latch element from said latch-engaging element, and controlling means associated operably with the pressing means of the press whereby to automatically lock said latch element in engagement with the latch-engaging element on the box during the pressing operation within the box and for preventing operation of the pressing means when said latch element is moved from said box-holding position.

JAMES S. NEVI'II.

llOa 

